Fishing reel



. definiteness. 'made to prevent'the operator inzmanipulating PatentedSept. 14, 1943 UNITED STATES PATEN T OFF'ICE' I "2,329,381 Y i I FISHINGREEL Bryant Bannister, Mount. Lebanon, Pa.

Application December 9, 1940,: Serial'No. 3639;208

' (Cl..242-.84;7)j

I 8. Claims.

This invention relates to fishing reels and more particularly to reelssuch as are employed 1 indeep'salt water fishing for large game fish,for

I used with respect to the weight'of the fish landed why the timerequired to land a fish with a prescribed weight of tackle. Ineithercase it is highly desirable to have under constant control thebraking effect of the reel which, in turn, largely controls the linetension and movement of the fish. This control should be such that it"permits of considerable variation at the will of the operator duringthe playing of a fish analso that the amount of such braking effectshould be at all times known with moderate In addition, provision shouldbe the brake to unintentionally reduce the line tension to zero, therebyproducing a free-spoofing condition. If such free-spooling shouldsuddenly occur while a fish is pulling heavily on the line,

- overrunning of the spool'would likely occur and" result in a back lashand a snarled line.

' In the conventional star dragtype of reel the braking effect can bevaried by. adjustment of the star drag, but the adjusting means fromwhich the name" star drag is derived is a star In another and morerecent design, the crank is provided with-a certain amount of so-calledlost motion whereby it is possible to turn-the crank irom'drivingposition'in -a reverse direction to gradually reduce the braking effect.In this case an adjustment for the maximum brak- 1 ing effect is alsoprovided by means ofran adjusting knob or wheel which rotates with thecrank.

, It therefore possesses the same weakness as the star drag reel. I g

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a fishingreel wherein the line tension can be varied by a simple movement of-thedriving crank but with the maximum-and minimum line tensionobtainable controlledyby v an independentiand non-rotating means.

Another object is the provision of a fishing reel possessing theforegoingcharacteristics. with the crank movement able to reduce linetension to 'zero, or to a free-spoofing condition, only when theindependent tension -limiting means -has 55- previously beenadjusted to:.a certain position.

When in all other positions itris impossible to reducelineitension .to:zeco -.by::manipulationof the driving crank; v

::To the accomplishment of these and .otherz de- .sirable objects andpurposes, I have designed the present, preferred embodiments .of the.invention presented in: the accompanying .drawing forming .a part ofthisispecificationand to which reference should.- :be. had". in:connection with the-following detailed description, and in this drawing,for

simplicity, like reference numerals have been employed. to: designatethe same: parts throughout the several views.

:In saidwidrawing:

Figure:1:iisacomposite view of which the lower half is a plan of thereel, while-the upper'half-is a horizontal section through the centerthereof.

Figure 2 is a side elevationwith some of the elements which wouldnormally appear therein being removed in the interests of I clearerillustration.

buterend ofthe hub portion 6 or; the spool side plate 5 is aclickmechanism operated by a control element on the exterior ofthe-cover plate'B;

:Figure. 3 .is a sectional view of a1 part or the upper half takenalongonly 180 degrees and-illustrating a detail. I

. Referring more particularly to the drawing,

whereinthere is illustrated a preferred'form =of rfishing reel made in:accordance with" the teach- -ings of, the present invention, thenumerals land *2. designate side-plates which are suitably -heldtogether-and comprisea frame. The sidegplate I has a centralaperture-within which there is seated a ball bearing 4.DiSpOsed-Withinthe fframeand most-adjacent the side plate I thereof isaspool side plate 5, the latter being provided with a hub portion 6-which extends throughand is journaled: in the ball bearing.

Secured on the outer face of" the side p latel and over the centralaperture-thereof is a cover plate 8. BetW-een the cover plate 8 and "thethese 'i-nstrumen-talities" assuch formingno part :of the presentinvention and being therefore a neither fully illustrated norfurther;referred to vhereinafter. A

The side plate Z .ofithe frame -ofthereel' also 1;has a centralJ-apertureand relatively adjacent thereto is providedzon its inner. facewith a rightangular flange lil carrying .a hub portioni ltot' reduceddiameter. On: the hub portion 1 l I "described immediately herein-heterois disposed a ball bearing l3, the latter supporting for rotation thebodyportiou cr oenters 15 of thespool. "One rotatable shaft 2 ll.

end of the body portion or center it of the spool abuts against theinner face of the spool side its end is a rotatable shaft 23,0ne end ofwhich I occupies the axial interior conifo-rm recess 18 in the bodyportion or center :5 of the spool and terminates adjacent the inner faceof the spool side plate 5.

tral aperture in the side plate 2 and carries in screw-threadedengagement with its outboard end a collar 22, the latter carrying on itsouter end a radial annular flange 23.

Secured to the radial annular flange 23 by means of spaced screws 24 isa cover plate 25,

while clamped, between the said radial annular flange 23 and the saidcover plate 25 is a flat ring 21, the latter having integrally formed.at diametrically opposite points thereon a long arm 28 and a short'arm28 which occupy the same plane, and have attached to their respectiveouter ends a large crank handle 30 and a short crank handle 3|.

Screw-threadedly,disposed in the central aperture of the side plate 2 isa collar 33.having integrally formed on the periphery thereof a radialannularflange 34 terminating in a peripherally enlarged portion 35 whichoverhangs a portion of the periphery of the radial annular flange 23carried by the collar 22 on the outer end of the This constructionprovides an annular space betweenthe outer face of the radial annularflange 34 and the inner face of the radialflange 23 within which thereis disposed a centrallyapertured spring disc 36. The inner diameter ofthe centrally apertured spring disc 36 is slightly larger than theoutside diameter of the collar 22v on the outboard end of the rotatableshaft 23, thereby enabling said disc to encompass the said collar.Immediately adjacent the periphery of the said collar 22, the inner faceof the radial annular flange 23 thereon is provided with an annulargroove within which there is disposed a ball bearing 38.

The thread connecting the outboard end of the rotatable shaft 20 withthe collar 22 thereon is right-handed, whereby it will be perceived thatwhen the flat ring 2'! is, by means of either of the crank handles 33 or3 I, given clockwise rotation, the rotatable shaft 29 will tend to movetoward the said flat ring since there is relative ,motion between shaft23 and collar 22 because shaft 26 resists turning due to frictionalresistance and resistance of speed l5 to rotation when there, is tensionon the fishing line.

the flat ring 21 and collar, 22 on the outboard Conversely,

' the adjacent face of the radial annular flange 23 within Which theball bearing is carried. 7,

The thread carrying the collar 33 in the central aperture of the-sideplate 2 is also righthanded, whereby. the rotation of the radial an-.

The other end of the rotatable shaft! 20 projects through and extendsfrom the-cennular flange 34 in a clockwise direction will cause the saidcollar 33 to move inwardly toward the center of the reel; and,conversely, when rotated in a counterclockwise direction, will moveoutwardly with respect thereto. From the foregoing, it is believedapparent that the movement of the collar 33 and its associated elements,including the centrally apertured springdisc 36, will also move thecollar 22 and the rotatable shaft 20 on the outboard end of which it iscarried.

Disposed within the axial interior coniform recess in the body portionor center '5 of the spool, and carried on the adjacent end of therotatable shaft 20, is an annular friction element 4!), the, peripheryof which is shaped to conform to and adapted for contact with the saidconiform recess I8. This friction element 40, which may be constructedof cork or'other suitable material, is secured in any suitable way tothe end of the rotatable shaft 20, and there is provided between it andthe adjacent end of the bushing I9 a compression spring 4|. Thiscompression spring 4iis constantly undercompression, and therefore tendsat all timesto maintain contact between the collars 22 and 33 throughthe ball bearing 38. [Thus the rotatableshaft 20 and friction element 40are free to move axially whereby the 'movement'gof the latter towardsthe middle portion of g the spool brings the, said friction element intofrictional engagement with the coniform recess I8'inthe body portion orcenter 1510f the spool,,the friction increasing with anincreaseinpressure in that direction. Accordingly, the axial movement ofthe rotatableshaft 20 toward the side plate I of the frame will free thefriction element 40 from contact with the coniform recess I8 in the bodyportion; or center of the spool. Thus, with proper relative positioningof the collars 22 and 33, the rotation of either ,of the crank handles3ll or 3|; in a counterclockwise direction will discontinue frictionalcontact between the' friction element 40 and the coniform recess l8,thereby removing all but negligible resistance to the rotation of thespool which is comprised of the body portion orcenter .I5 and the spoolside plates '5 and I6. Under these conditions, the spool is said to be,free spooling.

As shown more clearly in Figure 2, the outboard end of the rotatableshaft 20 carries a cross pin 43 which projects radially at diametricallyopposite points on the periphery thereof. 0n the inner surface of theflat ring 21 there is carried a pair of spaced and diametrically opposedprojections 44, which, upon limited rotative movement of the flat ring21, engage the cross pin 43 on the rotatable shaft 20. Between thecollar 22and the inner end of the hub portion I l of the right-angularflange ID of the side plate 2, the rotatableshaft 20 carries anintegrally formed ratchet wheel 46 whichi'engages an abutment 41 on afiat spring 48 which is carried by the right-angular flange lflfon theside plate 2. p, This abutment 41 engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel46 and prevents, the. counterclockwise rotation of the rotatable shaft20 with respect to the side plate 2, andaccor'd- I "4,f5,''thexlatterYbeing scribed ion theouter fa ceuof the side. plate :2 asshown Figure 2. Adjacent its periphery, the radial annularflange on theouter' end of "the-collar 33 hasformedon its inner face anilarcuategroove -having:a series of notches 5| corresponding-with fthe:disposition of the lever50 at the indexed r positions describedhereinbefore. vFacing "the tiarcuate groove having the notches 5|, theend xzplate'2'has formed in the outer face thereof arecesswithin whichthere is disposeda com- -:prssion spring 53 at the outer end of which is,anball 54 which seats in the said -notches' 5| as :the lever'5fl ismoved into different positions.

:The pitch. ofthe threads connecting the -outboard end of \the rotatableshaft 20 and the collar 22 carried thereon, together with the partsassociated therewith, can be suchthat when either of the crankhandles-'30 or13| is turned from the rearward position to theforwardposi- 1 tion where the projections 5-44 engage the cross pin:43;on therotatable shaftZO, there is established contact between thefriction element 40 and theconiform recess I8. When the lever 50 is inthe position designated 0 (see Figure 2) and either of the crank handlesin its rearward position, free spooling is obtained, but if either ofthe crank handles 30 or 3| is moved from rearward to the forwardposition, the rotation of the spool is to a small degree retarded sincethe rotatable shaft 20 cannot turn backwards, and the line on the spoolcomes off at the bottom. By moving the lever 50 to the positiondesignated 1 the lost motion between the friction element '40 and theconiform recess I8 is elimiated, and even with the crank handles 30 or3| in their rearward positions, a slight braking effect is produced,which braking effect can be increased by moving either of the crankhandles in a clockwise direction. Thus, free spooling is only possiblewith the lever 50 in the position designated 0 regardless of thepositions of the crank handles 30 and 3|.

When the lever 50 is progressively moved to the positions designated 2,3, 4, and 5, the maximum obtainable braking effect is increased, but atall times the movement of the crank handles 30 and 3| can vary thebraking effect on the line from the maximum to a lesser degree.Therefore, when a fish is being played, the operator can set the lever50 to any position he deems desirable as maximum under thecircumstances, and, in order to procure the action he desires on thepart of the fish, may vary the braking effectsimply by moving either ofthe crank handles 30 or 3|. It isto be particularly noted, however, thatthe operator cannot inadvertently or otherwise reduce the braking effectto complete elimination thereof except when the lever 53 is in theposition designated 0.

While I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of thepresent invention, it will be seen that I do not wish to be limitedexactly thereto, since various modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, as defined by the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. In a fishing reel, a stationary cylindrical element, a rotatablespool mounted peripherally of said stationary cylindrical element, arotatable shaft extending through said stationary cylindrical element, africtional driving element carried by said rotatable shaft and adaptedfor driving association with said rotatable spool, means for axiallymoving said frictional driving 15 "frictional driving element.

, J2.I'In1 a "fishing reel; a stationary cylindrical element, a.rotatable spool mounted peripherally of said stationarycylirrdricalelement, .a rotatable shaft extending "through said stationary 10wcylindrical element,.a frictional driving element securedto saidrotatable shaft and adapted for driving association with said rotatablespool, a-means" for axially moving said. rotatable shaft to therebymove. said frictional driving element into landiout of I the drivingassociation ,aforesaid,

I means for enabling the rotation of said rotatable shaft, andnormallystationary means :for adx-justing the axial disposition of saidrotatable rrshaft. 2o .13. In ia 'fishing .reel, a stationarycylindrical .element, a" rotatable spool mounted peripherally ofwsaidstationary cylindrical element, a rotatable shaft extending through saidstationary ncylin'drical element,.a frictional driving element carriedby said rotatable shaft and adapted for driving association with saidrotatable spool, means for axially moving said frictional drivingelement into and out of driving association aforesaid, means forenabling the rotation of said rotatable shaft in one direction, meansoperable by the opposite rotation of said rotatable shaft to influencesaid frictional driving element out of driving association with saidrotatable spool, and normally stationary means for adjusting the 5 axialdisposition of said frictional driving element.

4. In a fishing reel, a stationary cylindrical element, a rotatablespool mounted peripherally of said stationary cylindrical element, arotatable shaft extending through said stationary cylindrical element, africtional driving element secured to said rotatable shaft and adaptedfor driving association with said rotatable spool, means for axiallymoving said rotatable shaft to thereby move said frictional drivingelement into and out of the driving association aforesaid, means forenabling the rotation of said rotatable shaft in one direction, meansoperable by the opposite rotation of said rotatable shaft to influencesaid frictional driving element out of driving association with saidrotatable spool, and normally stationary means for adjusting the axialdisposition of said rotatable shaft.

5. In a fishing reel, a stationar cylindrical element, a rotatable spoolmounted peripherally of said stationary cylindrical element andproviding an axial coniform recess, a rotatable shaft extending throughsaid stationar cylindrical element, a coniform frictional drivingelement 50 carried by said rotatable shaft and adapted for drivingassociation with the axial coniform recess insaid rotatable spool, meansfor axially moving saidfrictional driving element into and out of thedriving association aforesaid, means for en- 5 abling the rotation ofsaid rotatable shaft, and normally stationary means for adjusting theaxialt disposition of said frictio al driving elemen 6. In a fishingreel, a stationary cylindrical,

element, a rotatable spool mounted peripherally of said stationarycylindrical element and providing an axial coniform recess, a rotatableshaft extending through said stationary cylindrical element, a coniformfrictional driving element secured to said rotatable shaft and adaptedfor driving association with the axial coniform recess in said rotatablespool, means for axially, moving said rotatable shaft to thereby movesaid fricvtional driving element into and out of thedriv ing associationaforesaid, means for enabling the rotation of said rotatable shaft, andnormally stationary means for adjusting the axial disposition of saidrotatable shaft,

7.,In va fishing reel, a stationary cylindrical element, a rotatablespool, mounted peripherally of said stationary cylindrical element andproviding an axial coniform recess, a rotatable shaft extending throughsaid stationary cylindrical rotation of said rotatable shaft toinfluence said frictional driving element out of driving associationwith the axial coniform recess in said I tional driving element.

rotatable spool, and normally stationarymeans for adjustingthe axialdisposition of said fric- 8. In a fishing reel, a, stationarycylindrical element, a rotatable-spool mounted peripherally of saidstationary cylindrical element and pro- ,viding an axial coniformrecess, a rotatable shaft extending through said stationary cylindricalelement, a coniform frictional driving element secured to saidrotatableshaft and adapted for drivingassociation with the axial coniform .recessin said rotatable spool, means for axially moving said rotatable, shaftto thereby move said frictional driving element into and out'of thedriving association aforesaid, means for enabling the rotation of saidrotatable shaft in one direction, means operable by the oppositerotationof said rotatable shaft to influence said frictional drivingelement out of driving association with the axial coniform recess insaid rotatable spool, and normally stationary means for adjusting theaxial disposition of said rotatable shaft.

BRYANT BANNISTER.

